4 Tips to Keep Your Privacy on LinkedIn

By Jon Chase, Laptopmag.com Contributor | Jan 22, 2013 03:33 PM EST

Unlike other social networks, which are foremost used for entertainment or news, LinkedIn is almost exclusively used for business purposes. That creates a presumed limiting factor on risky posts, behaviors and interactions you’ll have. But it also increases the stakes substantially — while it might be unlikely for you to be a Facebook friend of your current or former boss, business clients or even your next potential employer, it wouldn’t be uncommon at all on LinkedIn. But that doesn’t mean they need access to your entire world. As with any professional setting, some mystery is a good thing.

1 Don’t Broadcast Résumé Changes

To prevent every little update to your résumé being sent to the entire community, you can choose to limit them.

Uncheck the box for “Let people know when you change your profile, make recommendations, or follow companies.”

Click Save Changes.

Note: This is the same process you should follow when you’re making new connections with people of whom your boss might not approve. The above steps will ensure your activity feed is viewable only by you. Otherwise, that connection you make with a headhunter might lead straight to the unemployment line when your boss gets pinged with your update.

2. Hide Your Connections From the World

One of LinkedIn’s key components is the ability to openly see who has viewed your profile, but the reverse is obviously true and should be addressed. Depending on your position and field, it may be worth hiding your connections from snooping eyes by limiting them to direct connections.

Click your name on the top right.

Select Settings from the drop-down menu.

Click “Select who can see your connections.”

Toggle to Only You, instead of Your Connections.

Click Save Changes.

3. Disconnect Other Social Networks

Crucially, just as with other social networks, we recommend against connecting them — an errant personal tweet appearing on your LinkedIn profile can lead to hot water quickly. If you’ve already done so, here’s how to separate your universes.